New ability achieved. For the first time in the Indo-Pacific, the United States Marine Corps successfully fired the AGM-179 joint air-to-ground missile (JAGM), hitting and sinking a moving vessel near Okinawa, Japan. The JAGM was fired by a USMC AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter during an expeditionary strike training mission by the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.…

America is celebrating its 248th Independence Day on July 4, 2023. This episode’s weapon of the week will take a look at some patriotically themed vessels, vehicles and weapons that the U.S. military has accrued over the years. The USS Constitution — also known as Old Ironsides — is the world’s oldest commissioned warship still…

Many jobs require some form of on-the-job training, working with colleagues so employees can go back to their jobs with more knowledge and confidence than before. However, in the world of special operations, where on-the-job training is constant, insights into how to best use new technology don’t always make it to the frontlines. In special…

The Philippines is taking steps to ensure China does not dominate the South China Sea by building its first BrahMos anti-ship missile base aimed at the contested waters. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies appears to show the development of the base, which includes a high bay for maintenance and testing, as well as a separate…

Israel’s Iron Dome is one of the world’s premier air defense systems. It was first put into service to protect land-based targets more than a decade ago. Now, the technology behind it is scoring kills at sea too. The C-Dome is the naval version of the Iron Dome. It uses advanced radars and sensors to…

It’s a tradition that’s only possible in Annapolis, Maryland. Every May, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels soar over the United States Naval Academy and put on a show for the graduating class and thousands of spectators on land and water. The Blue Angels did it again on Wednesday, May 22, ahead of Friday’s graduation ceremony,…

In April, social media posts out of China showed a potential major step for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). If the images are accurate, that means their newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is set to begin sea trials, moving it even closer to operational status. This development has drawn the attention of American…

The Sikorsky CH-53-K King Stallion helicopter upgrade is already living up to the hype as one of the most versatile tools available to the U.S. military. New video shows the helicopter refueling in mid-air while carrying an F-35 jet. That new skill is just the beginning for this weapon of the week. The U.S. Marine…

Unmanned aircraft are the common thread in the way militaries could fight future conflicts. Military leaders are already factoring technology for fully autonomous and remotely piloted aircraft into battle plans. While this weapon of the week is not a part of those plans yet, it soon could be. The Bell V-247 Vigilant is the unmanned…

This week on Weapons and Warfare, we’re reporting from Sea, Air, Space 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. Hosted by the U.S. Navy League, this annual exposition brings together America’s maritime forces and commercial partners as top officials from the Navy and the Marine Corps share insights on the current state of their services. Plus, host…